Vanya strode out of the ocean with a tremble running through her limbs that had little to do with the season. The heady mixture of elation and fear swilled in her veins like a thick potion, and she couldn't settle on any single thought or idea. Each moment that they spent swimming she expected the baritone tones of Rougaru to break up her escape attempt, and to curtail her freedom as he had once before.

Emotions swirled in her chest and left her confused and uncertain. Triumph at her escape reigned one moment, only to be quickly overtaken by guilt at removing Drogon from the only home and male role model that he had ever known. Guilt at leaving Titania behind shared space with her fierce hope that Rougaru would realize how wrong he was to mess with her. Sorrow at the knowledge that she had well and truly severed whatever connection it was that existed between herself and the silver stallion refused to be ignored.

In her own twisted way she loved him, but she also hated him. Not only for the way that he had forced her into a mundane life of a run of the mill herdmare, but that he had withheld his affection from her and allowed her to survive on the scraps of his attention. But most importantly of all, he had attempted to rip mother from son by dangling her freedom as bait.

Joke was on him, she now had both.

Drogon stared out at the wide-open landscape with surprise and uncertainty in his dark eyes. His mother had promised an adventure, but this didn't feel like the fun sort of adventure that he went on with Rougaru. "Can we go home now, momma?"

Vanya attempted to shush the weanling with a gentle touch to his neck, but he would not be dissuaded and repeated his question with a stamp of his foot. She had not yet told the colt of Rougaru's betrayal, having known that if any word of the truth got back to the stallion, he would make good on his other threats. "This is our home now. See, look how pretty the mountains are."

"Where is Rougaru? We were supposed to go on an adventure today." The colt's voice verged on the edge of whiny as he battled his fear and exhaustion.

Vanya's ears tipped back in a storm of anger that made her want to shake her son, to force him to see how Rougaru had left her no choice in the matter. This wasn't the future she had envisioned for them either, but this was the path that she had to take. With a long, deep breath and a minute long study of the skies above, Vanya quelled the rage that bubbled in her chest and turned back to Drogon.

"We don't have to see Rougaru again my sweet. We get to choose our own destiny here." She addressed the dark colt calmly, and was pleased to see the way he quieted under her command. Drogon was well aware of his mother's temper and in truth, really only wanted to curl up and sleep. Preferably under the familiar jungle canopy he has called home all his life, but he would settle for anywhere at this point. "You wanted to meet more foals, and we can do that here."

She attempted to assure him with promises of the very activity he always tried to wheedle from his antisocial mother, but he didn't respond and the pair lapsed into silence while they waited for their escort to return. When at last the roan spotted the desert mare, she inclined her head reluctantly and offered a small, terse smile. "Thank you. For everything."

Speaking to other mares had never been her forte, and even now she felt herself on unstable ground. Still, as much as she wanted to be her normal vain and selfish persona, Titania's face and rare kindness would not leave her mind. It made her feel beholden to the girl, and Vanya hated owing favors. "Can anything be done for my friend, Titania?"